Winter pants

What's everyone wearing for winter pants and at what temps? I've always worn regular pants with medium weight thermals underneath. This does fine for the most part but below 10 F, especially when the wind is blowing (common), this leaves my legs chilly.

I sometimes wear snow boarding pants over everything, which adds warmth and blocks wind, but that starts to feel bulky and accessing pockets is difficult.

I've never owned lined pants but am considering it. Or maybe I just need heavier thermals.

My normal usage is walking with the dog for 3-4 miles. She can handle -10 so that's about as cold as I'll be out in as long as she's around.

Alan

My favorite for casual activities in the cold like a dog walk are some fleece lined polyester pants I got at Costco. They're warm enough that I have to take them off when I get inside the house. I think the brand is called Vintage. They're too warm if I'm really exerting myself on a hike, but perfect for more casual outdoor activities.

Punkinhead said:

My favorite for casual activities in the cold like a dog walk are some fleece lined polyester pants I got at Costco. They're warm enough that I have to take them off when I get inside the house.

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Thanks for the feedback. I'm curious what temps you find these suitable for? I wear my mid weight thermals all day everyday during winter and usual keep my house a bit cool to keep from getting too hot inside. But I think it's time to get something a bit warmer that I might have to change into/out of before and after the walk.

Alan

Alan Gage said:

Thanks for the feedback. I'm curious what temps you find these suitable for?

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Probably in the range of 0-25F. Below that and other parts of me are too cold to enjoy it and above that I'd be a bit warm in those pants. As an example, it's hovering right around 32F with no wind today and I wore jeans for a 3 mile dog walk. The fleece lined pants would have been OK but borderline too warm if we'd have picked up the pace. If there had been wind I'd have wanted the fleece lined pants.

Big Bill wool pants, I practically live in them until April.

Just remembered, I got a skinny pair I've never worn, 32 inch waist, probably fit a svelte fella like you.

memaquay said:

Big Bill wool pants, I practically live in them until April.

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Those look like nice pants. But getting me to spend $165 on a pair of pants might be as tough as getting you to drop $7000 on a canoe.


I see they have some flannel lined pants for a bit less.


Alan

Once you go wool, you never go back. I know it might be insensitive to ask on a public forum, but what us your waist size? If you fall within the skinny side, you could get a late Christmas present in the mail.

Not the fancy Leprachaun pants though, these ones.
https://www.bigbill.com/ca_en/wool-outdoor-pant-214

Still some army surplus wool pants on the internet. Medium weight wool is great for a wide range of temps with thermal worn under. Even damp it is still warm. Mix and match and good for -30 F while walking.

I’ve got some lined pants form LL Bean and a couple pairs of wool pants. It hasn’t been cold enough or me having to be out long enough to warrant the wool pants. After Christmas I need to check it they all still fit, if not there might be some looking for a new home.
Jim

memaquay said:

Once you go wool, you never go back. I know it might be insensitive to ask on a public forum, but what us your waist size? If you fall within the skinny side, you could get a late Christmas present in the mail.

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Definitely on the skinny side. I'm one of those high cadence sit and switch tweakers. Size 32/34

Alan

As a winter camper I love my Big Bill/ Codet pants (same company, different names depending on location)- I've got both the green and plaid ones, the green ones are perfect for higher activity stuff like snowshoeing, setting up camp or chopping wood, they do tend to loosen up and stretch over time so the occasional wash in warm water can help tighten up the weave again, mine have been used and abused for almost 30 years, and while starting to look like they came from the second hand store thrift bins, they're still in one piece and plenty warm with no rips, pilling, or thin spots. The plaid ones are excellent for sitting around camp or ice fishing but are a little stiff and hot for high activity use, and after 2+ decades of use they still look brand new. I've worn both in temps as low as -40 (-60 windchill) with nothing more than a pair of mid-weight merino long johns under them. With an old navy issue wool sweater and down vest they're more than capable of keeping me warm in any weather- in fact, with this combo, I wore my parka in the bush only once last year, and not at all the previous winter...
When you consider how warm and hard-wearing they are, they actually are a very good investment- those plaid ones cost me about $10/ year over their life and show no signs of wearing out yet, the green ones are even better at about $3/ year...

As a lifelong tightwad, $3 a year for pants has a lot of appeal (wonder if I can find a pair or two in a thrift store )

Alan Gage said:

What's everyone wearing for winter pants and at what temps?

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I'll take a different path and suggest wind shell pants with full length zippers. No insulation. They don't need to be waterproof but breathable (e.g., Goretex) rain pants work really well. I use them for winter walks, snowshoeing, Nordic ski touring, and even shoveling snow. They're great because you can just slip them on right over your regular pants and shoes/boots. Easy peasy. They block a chilly wind and add a bit of warmth. Or, if you're out for a day you can wear the thermal wear of the day and use the shells for outer wear. And if you get too warm you just unzip part way to vent or to access pants pockets.

Unfortunately wind shell pants with full zippers are getting to be hard to find. For some reason they aren't popular and the shells that are available tend to be high end (expensive) back country skiing/mountaineering pants. I have a pair of mountaineering shell pants that I got half price and you can find them for a reasonable price if you look. As scoutergriz mentions, if you consider them an investment they're quite affordable.

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Second shell pants, especially if you're mostly having trouble on windy days. Rain pants would serve the same purpose. A lot of AT thru hikers like Frogg Toggs. Cheap, but they work.

100 to 320 weight Merino Long Johns, 3/4 Length Fleece Pants or joggers (they end mid calf at my boot) and then unlined knock off goretex ski bibs overalls on the outside. I have a couple different weights of Fleece Pants and Long Johns I will mix and match based on the activities and temperature.

I find the overalls without the belt leave you hips nice and free to move, makes layering seem less bulky. They have some good venting zips in them too, moving you legs helps to pulls and push some air around inside and keep you from overheating / getting too much moisture. I used some North Face rain pants before I got the overalls, they worked fine.

I found a couple of pairs of 100% wool army surplus pants and they work the best for me. If it's below 10F I usually wear some thermals under them.

If I'm just bumming around outside, I typically wear a pair of zip-off nylon pants (the same ones I use the rest of the year) with a pair of long underwear as a base layer under them. For extended cold, I'll pull out a pair of Woolrich pants I've had since the early 1980s. They were expensive at the time but have held up well; similar to the Big Bill pants already mentioned.

Like some other folks here, I have started to use full length zippered shell pants with long underwear for xc skiing and snowshoeing. I like the lightweight and protection the two layers offer me.

That's all for now. Take care and until next time...be well.

snapper

I'll have to rummage around and see what I might have for shell pants.
I have a pair of fleece lined rain pants that I've used in winter before and while they've done the job of providing extra warmth they always get damp inside from the sweat. Something breathable or with vents would be nice.

I found this windbreaker setup for pretty cheap. Might give it a shot: